Thermaltake Level 10 GT Battle Edition - Man Your Battle Stations!

Introduction

Thermaltake is a company that needs no introduction. Its reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality PC chassis, power supplies and cooling solutions has been established over the years with the release of these products in retail channels worldwide to reach enthusiasts and system builders of PC systems. In recent years, Thermaltake has commissioned BMW Designworks to collaborate on one of the most prestigious PC chassis around, the Thermaltake Level 10.

With the synergy created by the their collaboration, Thermaltake and BMW Designworks have created an iconoclastic breed of PC chassis that has taken most expected design concepts of a typical PC casing, and threw them out the window. As such, the Thermaltake Level 10 series of PC chassis is unlike any the PC community has seen. Its distinctive design literally breaks out from the typical box shape structure of a normal PC chassis. The components of a Thermaltake Level 10 casing protrude from where they are placed, breaking out unexpectedly to jar the usual streamlined look of the casing. Its detractors may deem Thermaltake's efforts as an over-the-top exercise of form over function; however, we feel that this inventive series does have a certain appeal and edgy look to it. At the recent Computex 2012, we witnessed the full-range of Thermaltake's Level 10 M gaming mice that can be seen as a natural extension of their collaborative synergy with BMW Designworks to these inputs devices.

For those who've been keenly following the evolution of the Level 10 series of casings, you would recall that only the original Level 10 case was the outcome from the collaboration between BMW Designworks and Thermaltake. The many other editions like the Level 10 GT, Level 10 GT LCS, Level 10 GT Snow Edition and the Level 10 GTS are all designed and made by Thermaltake, but inspired by the original Level 10 chassis.

We have in our labs the Battle Edition of the Thermaltake Level 10 GT. With its heft and military green colors, it is hard not to miss this chassis. Besides its attention-grabbing looks, its S$449 price tag means that to own this chassis, one would have to pay 25% more than a regular Level 10 GT (with a side window) that is priced at S$359. We find out if this variant of the Thermaltake Level 10 GT chassis is a futile tribute to computing excess or if it truly offers something to its target audience of enthusiasts and system builders. Since we've not thoroughly evaluated the original Level 10 GT edition, we'll be taking a close look at the Battle Edition from all angles.